ENGINEERING SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT MADE EASY
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CADtoEarth
For Autodesk Fusion 360
User's Guide
March 14, 2016
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Contents
Chapter 1: Getting Started 4
What is CADtoEarth 4
Sign Up for a free CADtoEarth account 5
Chapter 2: CADtoEarth Plug-in 8
Introduction 8
Access 8
Log In command 8
CADtoEarth Pane command 13
Get Surface command 14
Get Drawing command 17
Export Model command 19
Export Image command 21
About command 24
Chapter 3: CADtoEarth Web Application 25
Introduction 25
CADtoEarth web services 25
Access 26
Chapter 4: Google Earth Tools 26
3D Models tab & Storages 26
Control Models tab 29
Surface & Drawings tab 32
Options tab 34
Upload Model tab 35
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Convert to 3D PDF 36
Export to Cesium 38
Chapter 5: Google Maps Tools 39
Images tab & Storages 39
Control Images tab 40
Drawings tab 41
Upload Image tab 44
Chapter 6: Cesium tools 45
Appendix A: Contact Us 46
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Chapter 1: Getting Started
This guidance document describes the formal steps of how to use CADtoEarth plug-in
for Autodesk Fusion 360 with CADtoEarth web application. It provides a help material
which is intended to assist in using of all application functions.
What is CADtoEarth
CADtoEarth is a family of innovative add-in applications for the most popular CAD
packages, linking modeling environments withChapter 6: Cesium toolsium, Google Earth
and Google Maps.
CADtoEarth for Autodesk Fusion 360 offers a wide range of abilities, including an
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ability to:
• Import a section of a surface from Cesium or Google Earth into Autodesk Fusion
360 modeling session as a mesh.
• Import a pre-drawn sketch from Cesium or Google Earth into Autodesk Fusion
360 modeling session.
• Import the information about building layer from Cesium or Google Earth.
• Place 3D structures on the imported mesh within Autodesk Fusion 360 modeling
session and then upload them back to Cesium or Google Earth.
• Perform the similar operations with 2D objects between Autodesk Fusion 360 and
Google Maps.
Manage 3D models in CADtoEarth web application:
• Change altitude, scale, rotate and move 3D structures.
• Choose 3D structures for auto-placement.
• Share 3D structures with other users.
• Upload *.kmz models into the personal storage.
• Make 3D *.pdf from own 3D structures.
Sign Up for a free CADtoEarth account
It is required to sign up for a CADtoEarth account to be able to link up CAD
environment with Cesium, Google Earth and Google Maps services.
Note: To simplify the creation of the account no personal information is required.
However, with an email address it is possible to recover the account in case if credentials
were lost.
The account is completely free, follow the next easy steps to register – just a web
browser and an Internet connection are needed.
• In the browser address bar type: http://www.cadtoearth.amcbridge.com
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• Click on the Join link on the Login page displayed in the browser
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Registration page
Enter User Name and Password into the form and click Join.
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Chapter 2: CADtoEarth Plug-in
Introduction
The CADtoEarth plug-in extends the functionality of Autodesk Fusion 360 and
establishes a bi-directional connection between CAD environment and such virtual
globe and map services like Cesium, Google Earth and Google Maps.
Plug-in features the following functions:
• Export of 3D model to Cesium or Google Earth.
• Export of 3D model view and subsequent placement of it onto Google Maps.
• Import of the Earth surface from Cesium or Google Earth that might be useful for
architecture design purposes if rough data on ground elevations is needed.
• Import of the sketched curves from Cesium, Google Earth and Google Maps that
might useful for the object outlines capturing.
Access
After CADtoEarth plug-in is installed, the CADtoEarth toolbar appears under the 'Add-
Ins' tab of the Autodesk Fusion 360 ribbon toolbar:
The CADtoEarth toolbar contains a set of commands:
• Log In command
•
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• Get Drawing command
• Get Surface command
• Export Image command
• Export Model command
• CADtoEarth Pane command
• About command
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Log In command
CADtoEarth implements a client-server system, where the plug-in is a client that sends a
request to the server that returns a response. To communicate, login to the plug-in with
your account credentials.
Click Log In - Login dialog will appear:
• Click on the Don't have an account? link to sign up for a one.
(See: Sign Up for a free CADtoEarth account)
• Enter your user name and password if you already have an account.
• Check the Remember me option to automatically login to the CADtoEarth plug-in
every time Autodesk Fusion 360 is launched.
• Click OK.
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Otherwise login through Facebook or LinkedIn.
To authorize with Facebook, click on the Facebook button and Facebook Login dialog
will appear:
Enter email or phone number and password for your account on Facebook and click Log
In.
To authorize with LinkedIn, click LinkedIn button and LinkedIn Login dialog will appear:
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Enter email and password for your account on LinkedIn and click Allow access button.
The logged in user has the full access to the CADtoEarth features.
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CADtoEarth Pane command
Run this command to open the CADtoEarth pane. It will display the CADtoEarth web
application in the web-browser:
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For more information about starting work with the CADtoEarth task pane, refer to
Chapter 3: CADtoEarth Web Application
Get Surface command
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One of the unique features of CADtoEarth is an ability to import certain part of the Earth
surface into CAD application. Launch Get Surface command from the CADtoEarth
toolbar.
Once the command is launched, a part of Earth surface captured using the CADtoEarth
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task pane tools will be imported into the currently opened Autodesk Fusion 360
modeling session as the Mesh object. (See: Surface & Drawings tab)
If some curves were sketched on the Google Earth prior to surface capturing, those
curves will be brought along with the surface. This might be useful for bringing the
outlines of buildings along with the surfaces they are located on.
The information about the buildings that are located on the imported part of a surface
also can be brought into the currently opened Fusion modeling session as a set of
BRepBodies.
Information on geographical binding will be imported into the currently opened
Autodesk Fusion 360 project also, so if it is published back to Google Earth, it will
appear at the same geographical location.
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Get Drawing command
Another unique feature of CADtoEarth is an ability to import curves sketched on Google
Maps into the CAD environment. Launch the Get Drawing command from the
CADtoEarth toolbar:
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Once the command is launched, the curves captured using the CADtoEarth task pane
tools will be imported into the currently opened Autodesk Fusion 360 modeling session
as a Drawing object. (See: Surface & Drawings tab)
The curves will be imported along with the information on geographical binding, so if
the model that was built using the imported curves is published back to the Earth it
would appear at the same location and would be oriented the same way.
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Export Model command
The Export Model command should be used to export the currently opened model in
Autodesk Fusion 360 to Cesium or Google Earth and upload the resulting file to the
CADtoEarth cloud service. Once the command is launched, a form with several options
appears:
• Triangulation level group of options provides the ability to specify which level of
detail will be used during the export.
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• Latitude and Longitude fields can be used to bind origin of the model to some
geographical location. If location of the model is unknown, these fields may be
left empty.
• Check the Export surface option to export the surface object back to the Earth.
• Check the Upload a model on server after export option to automatically upload
the generated file directly to the CADtoEarth cloud service, where it can be
manually placed to any location on Earth.
• Enter the model name and click OK.
• Leave the Upload a model on server after export option unchecked to save the
resulting *.kmz file on computer without uploading it to the CADtoEarth cloud
service.
• Choose the destination server, where to upload your model.
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Note: You can upload the resulting *.kmz file later via CADtoEarth web application.
(See: Upload Model tab)
Once the model has been uploaded to the server, it can be placed on the Earth surface
using the Load model button to the right of the model’s name (See: 3D Models tab &
Storages) or converted to 3D PDF format (See: Convert to 3D PDF).
Export Image command
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Use Export Image command to save the current model view as an image and upload it to
the CADtoEarth cloud service where it can be placed onto the maps. Once the command
is launched, the Save As dialog appears:
• Enter the name for an exported image into the File name text box.
• The image will be saved in the chosen folder and automatically sent to the server.
Once the image has been uploaded to the server, it can be placed on the maps using the
Load image button to the right of the picture's name.
(See: Images tab & Storages)
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About command
Run this command to open the CADtoEarth plug-in About dialog.
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Chapter 3: CADtoEarth Web Application
Introduction
The CADtoEarth web application offers a wide range of capabilities, including an ability
to:
• Capture the certain part of Earth surface from the Cesium or Google Earth.
• Sketch in Cesium, Google Earth and Google Maps environments.
• Use a personal storage for every CADtoEarth account, where the 3D models and
Images will be placed.
• Use a set of tools to manage 3D models: move, rotate and scale 3D structures to
fit the surrounding area.
• Share 3D models with other CADtoEarth users.
• Choose the models to be placed at startup, it’s useful for working with a set of 3D
models.
• Generate .pdf file with 3D model(s).
CADtoEarth web services
The web application provides an access to Google Earth and Google Maps services.
Easily switch between the web services using the Cesium, Google Earth and Google
Maps buttons at the top of the startup web page.
Use the Search box to quickly find the destination place.
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Access
Access the CADtoEarth web application using the following link:
http://www.cadtoearth.amcbridge.com
Right now, CADtoEarth supports the following web browsers:
• Internet Explorer 9.0 or newer (32-bit only)
• Mozilla Firefox 21.0 or newer (32-bit only)
• Google Chrome 27.0 or newer
Chapter 4: Google Earth Tools
3D Models tab & Storages
After exporting, the 3D structures will be uploaded directly to the CADtoEarth server.
To review the uploaded models:
• Open the CADtoEarth task pane.
• Switch to 3D Models tab under the Google Earth page.
Now there are two file storages with uploaded 3D models. Private storage contains a list
of models that were exported or uploaded by the current user. Shared storage contains a
list of public models that were shared by the other CADtoEarth users.
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Note: By default, the models exported from the CAD environment will be stored to the
Private storage.
The complete set of actions for every 3D model includes:
• Load model - the command places selected 3D model onto the Earth surface. If
there are built-in coordinates for the model, you will be offered to use them.
• Move to Shared Storage - the command moves selected 3D model to the
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Shared Models list.
Note: The models in Shared storage are visible to everyone.
Note: One user can share only up to 5 models.
• Move to Private Storage - the command moves the selected 3D model to the
Private Models list.
Note: this operation can be performed only for the current user’s models.
• Remove File - the command removes the selected 3D model from the
CADtoEarth cloud service.
Note: this operation can be performed only for the current user’s models.
Note: the model that is already placed on the Earth from the list can’t be removed. To do
this, to unload the model from the Earth.
(See: Control Images tab)
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Control Models tab
Use Control Models tab to manage the 3D structures that have been already placed on
Earth. Use the Control Panel to scale, rotate and move the model in order to fit the
surrounding area:
Control Panel allows user to change the settings for the selected model and save to the
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resulting configuration.
The complete set of actions supported by Control Panel includes:
• Scale Slider –scale the selected 3D model.
The range interval is from x0.1 to x6.
• Orientation Slider – rotate the selected 3D
model. The range interval in degrees is from -180º to 180º.
• Altitude Slider –control the altitude of the
selected model. The range interval is from -965m to 965m.
Move panel helps to change the location of the model to fit the surrounding area:
• Right Button –moves the selected 3D model to the West.
• Up Button–moves the selected 3D model to the North.
• Left Button –moves the selected 3D model to the East.
• Down Button – moves the selected 3D model to the South.
Click Save to save the resulting configuration for the selected 3D model.
Click Reset to restore to the default configuration of the selected 3D model.
Check the Place on startup option to enable the auto-placement of the 3D model.
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Unload Button removes the selected 3D model from the Earth.
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Surface & Drawings tab
At the Surface & Drawings tab set up the parameters of the exported surface and sketch
some curves, which might be useful if rough data on ground elevations or capturing
some object outlines is needed:
The complete set of supported actions includes:
Mesh slider – controls the accuracy of the captured
surface.
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Save 3D Building layer information enables user to get the building layer in 3D
representation along with the surface.
Drawing Mode is a specific mode that allows creating some curves that can be obtained
along with the surface. To be able sketch a curve, turn the Drawing Mode on by clicking
the button under the 'Drawing tools' group.
Note: switching between the Google Earth tabs is disabled while the Drawing Mode is
turned on! To turn it off, click the button under the 'Drawing tools' group.
Once the Drawing Mode is turned on, the Drawing tools commands will become
enabled. Drawing tools panel provides the following set of actions:
Create Button – the command begins a new polyline.
Undo Button– the command removes the last line from the current sketch.
Close Button – the command closes the current polyline.
Unload Button – the command removes all polylines.
To capture the surface with any additional information, click Save, and the surface will
be exported.
Switch back to the CADtoEarth plug-in and import the surface.
(See: Get Surface command)
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Options tab
Use Options tab to choose the information which is displayed on the Earth and choose
the visual style (3D/2D) for the objects.
The set of supported options includes:
• Border layer – provides information about the political borders;
• Road layer – provides information about the roads;
• 3D Building layer – provides 3D view for buildings;
• 3D Terrain layer – provides 3D view for terrain.
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Upload Model tab
Upload Model tab provides uploading files in .kmz format to the storages.
Note: KMZ is a file format that is supported by Google Earth. Google Earth can open
such files directly and display the content. It’s possible to upload the *.kmz models and
place them along with the models exported from Autodesk Fusion 360.
To upload a model:
• Click Browse... and select a *.kmz file from computer.
• In the Access type drop-down list choose the destination storage.
• Click Upload. The model will be uploaded to the chosen storage.
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Now it’s possible to switch to the 3D Models tab and place the uploaded model on the
Earth.
(See: 3D Models tab & Storages)
Convert to 3D PDF
Use Surface & Drawings tab under the Google Earth page to convert the resulting 3D
view into 3D PDF format:
Click Make PDF button and the surface with placed 3D buildings will be converted into
3D PDF format.
The resulting file will be returned in a minute asking for download.
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Note: Only 3D Models generated by the family of CADtoEarth Plug-ins could be
converted into 3D PDF format. We do not guaranty the COLLADA files generated by
other tools and uploaded using the cadtoearth.amcbridge.com web site will be visible.
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Export to Cesium
Use Export to Cesium tab to convert the resulting 3D model to Cesium suitable format.
For more details about Cesium refer to: Chapter 6: Cesium tools.
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Chapter 5: Google Maps Tools
Images tab & Storages
After exporting the images of models they will be uploaded directly to the CADtoEarth
server. To review the uploaded images:
• Open the CADtoEarth task pane.
• Switch to Images tab under the Google Maps page.
Now there are two file storages with the uploaded Images. The Private storage contains a
list of images that were exported or uploaded by the current user. The Shared storage
contains a list of public Images that were shared by other CADtoEarth users.
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Control Images tab
Use Control Images tab to manage Images that have been already placed on Google
Maps:
• Use the Control Panel box to change the opacity of the selected image.
• To change the position, drag an image with the left mouse button pressed.
• To rotate, hold the right button and move the mouse. Drag an image corner to
resize.
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Drawings tab
Use Drawings tab to sketch some curves. It might be useful to capture some object
outlines:
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Drawing Mode is a specific mode that allows creating some curves that can be exported
from Google Maps. To be able to sketch a curve, turn the Drawing Mode on by clicking
button under the 'Drawing tools' group.
Note: switching between the Google Earth tabs is disabled while the Drawing Mode is
turned on! To turn it off, click the button under the 'Drawing tools' group.
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Once the Drawing Mode is turned on, the Drawing tools commands becomes enabled.
Drawing tools panel provides the following set of actions:
Create Button – the command begins a new polyline.
Undo Button – the command removes the last line from the current sketch.
Close Button – the command closes the current polyline.
Unload Button – the command removes all the polylines.
Click Save, and the sketched curves will be exported.
Switch back to the CADtoEarth plug-in and import the Drawing.
(See: Get Drawing command)
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Upload Image tab
Use Upload Image tab to upload *.jpeg, *.gif or *.png format images to the storages.
Upload the images and place them along with the views exported from Autodesk Fusion
360.
To upload an image:
• Click Browse... and select an image from computer.
• In the Access type drop-down list choose the destination storage.
• Click Upload. The image will be uploaded to the chosen storage.
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Switch to the Images tab and place the uploaded image of the model on Maps. (See:
Images tab & Storages)
Chapter 6: Cesium tools
Cesium tool provides user with the most of Google Earth tool’s features. Now we are
supporting both tabs, and it is possible to choose a plugin for saving a model in Add-ins.
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Appendix A: Contact Us
AMC Bridge has a global footprint with offices and development centers in North
America and Ukraine. Our North American headquarters in Waltham handles all Sales,
Administrative and Business inquiries. Most of our software developers are located in
our state of the art offices in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, Khmel'nitskiy, Ukraine and
Sumy, Ukraine.
Please let us know how we can help you, and we will get in touch with you as soon as
we can. We are always open to new challenging projects, requests and suggestions.
Feel free to use wide experience of AMC Bridge team to find out all features and
intricacies of software development process. Contact us any time and we will do our
best to turn your ideas into reality.
AMC Bridge North America Headquarters:
303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451, USA
Tel.: +1 866-575-4791
Fax: +1 973-895-5376
For all online inquiries, please contact: [email protected]
Technical Support: [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you.